WHY IN NEWS ?

• World No Tobacco Day is being observed on May 31, 2021 under the theme “Commit to quit”.  It is observed since 1987 after member states of World Health Organisation created “World No Tobacco

Why is this day significant?

• As per Lancet study, in some three decades, about 200 million deaths were caused by smoking tobacco use while the annual economic costs because of smoking tobacco use is more than US $1 trillion.
• Further, one in six non-communicable disease-related deaths is due to smoking tobacco.
• Lancet has identified Tobacco control as a crucial and necessary “ part” to reach WHO’s global goals of 25 percent reduction in ”premature mortality” from non-communicable diseases by 2025 to comply with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Thus, this day becomes important to raise awareness among people of the harmful effects of smoking Tobacco.

Top Smoking countries

• 10 countries with the largest number of tobacco smokers as of 2019 are- China, India, Indonesia, USA, Russia, Bangladesh, Japan, Turkey, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
• Day” to bring global attention towards tobacco epidemic and associated preventable death.